EXHIBIT 5.01
                                                        (Includes Exhibit 23.01)



May 4, 2001


Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
450 5/th/ Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549

Re:  Electronic Arts Inc. ("EA")
     Registration Statement on Form S-8
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Ladies/Gentlemen:

I am an attorney licensed to practice law in the states of California and New
York and I am Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of EA.  I
have examined EA's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
                                                            ------------
Statement") to be filed by EA on or about May 4, 2001 in connection with the
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registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 6,000,000 shares
of Class B Common Stock that may be sold by EA to eligible employees, and
Directors of EA pursuant to EA's 2000 Class B Equity Incentive Plan (the
"Plan").
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As General Counsel for EA, I have examined the proceedings taken by EA in
connection with the Plan and the shares being registered hereby.

It is my opinion that the 6,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock that may be
issued and sold by EA pursuant to the Plan, when issued and sold in the manner
referred to in the Prospectus associated with the Registration Statement and the
Plan, as applicable, will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

I consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
and further consent to all references to this opinion, if any, in the
Registration Statement and amendments thereto.

Very truly yours,
ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.


/s/ Ruth A. Kennedy
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Ruth A. Kennedy
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary